Experience Requirements

To meet the admission requirements for the BEd program, competitive applicants will have volunteered or worked in some capacity in a group setting with children or youth, preferably of the age level you wish to teach.

Typical experiences for applicants include working in school classrooms as a volunteer or assistant, teaching dance, coaching team sports or working as a summer camp counselor. While we recommend classroom experience, it is not absolutely required. If you wish to obtain classroom experiences, you should make use of your personal network to find a placement. Experience in international settings can be valuable, but we also recommend experience in Canadian settings.

A range and variety of experiences is encouraged to better prepare for the program. We are looking for more than 75 hours, and it can be a total of various experiences put together. A substantial number of experience hours is generally favourable for your application, but it is not the only consideration, as admission is competitive. Although we consider all relevant experiences, we strongly recommend current experiences within the last five years.

 

You must submit the following THREE items to us with your application by way of the Supplemental Application Forms:

1.  A brief summary of work or volunteer experience with
children or youth
+ -

Experience working with groups rather than individual children or youth, especially of the ages you intend to teach, is strongly recommended for admission into the BEd program.

In your summary of experience, include details regarding:

Activites:
Indicate the organization and a clear statement about your duties and responsibilities.

Dates and Hours:
Indicate the length and hours per week and the total hours involved in the experience.

Supervision:
Indicate the names of supervisor(s) with telephone contact information.

Extra-Curricular and/or Community and Work Experience:
Briefly include any other of your relevant experiences in these areas that you consider important for us to know.

Examples of appropriate experience include:

  • in-school classroom experience
  • teaching at a community centre
  • teaching youth groups in other community settings
  • camp counseling
  • teaching in schools abroad
  • working with children of diverse backgrounds is recommended
  • Please consult an admissions officer if you have questions about your experience to date.
 
2.  A 1-page essay of 500-words
+ -

A 1-page essay of 500-words in concise and grammatically correct English that addresses the topic indicated on the essay form provided with the supplemental application items. The response to the essay topic should be based on your experience(s) with children and/or youth and should present a rationale for the views you express.

 
3.  Two confidential reference reports
+ -

Two confidential reference reports, preferably from referees who have observed you working with children or youth of the age level you wish to teach.

They must be submitted to the TEO office either of two ways:

  1. Referee sends it directly to the Teacher Education Office in a sealed envelope.
    2. - Or -

  2. You submit the form(s) sealed in envelopes signed by referee(s) across the back adhesive flap of the envelope after you apply.
  • Referees must use the form provided in the link; no other letter format will be accepted.
  • Referees must attest to your suitability for entering a teacher education program.
  • Choose TWO references. We strongly encourage you to submit both references from individuals who have observed or supervised you working with children and/or youth.
  • Confidential reference reports submitted to the UBC Faculty of Education will not be forwarded to other institutions.
 
  • When we receive your essay and experience summary and your confidential references, we have your data read by education professionals who evaluate it and make recommendations for admission based upon: quality, quantity and relevance of your combined experiences, your written language skills, and references.

    An additional interview may be required with the Admissions Committee.

Submitting Your Experience Requirements Online:

  1. Submit the BEd application and obtain a UBC student reference number (former and current UBC students already have their UBC student number).

  2. Log into the UBC Student Service Centre and create your Campus–Wide Login (CWL) account.

  3. Complete the BEd Supplemental Application Form and the Academic Requirements Form of your chosen program option (e.g., the "Elementary Supplemental Form" if you have applied for this option). NITEP applicants have to complete only the NITEP supplemental form.
 
 
 
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Fax: 604.822.8227
E-mail: teacher.ed@ubc.ca

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